LITTLE ROCK — The Bible has much to say about love and is filled with examples.

In 1 Corinthians 13, sometimes called the love chapter, the apostle Paul emphasizes the preeminence of love when he says, "If I have the gift of prophesy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing."

What Paul means here is that God is not impressed with religiosity - works done without love as the main ingredient of the act. If our lives are filled with religious activities, including spiritual gifts, "but have not love," then we really don't have a true understanding of spirituality.

A simple expression of love is accepting others as they are, regardless of their circumstances.

There is a wonderful story about coach Tom Landry that illustrates the level of his Christian love and acceptance of others. Years ago, the late Ohio State coach Woody Hayes was fired for striking an opposing player on the sidelines during a football game.

The press had a field day with the firing and really tarred and feathered the former Buckeye coach.

Few people in America could have felt lowerthan Woody did at that time. He not only lost control in a game and did a foolish thing, but he also lost his job and much of the respect others had for him.

That's when Tom Landry reached out to him. At the end of the season, a large, prestigious banquet was held for professional athletes. Of course Tom Landry was invited.

Guess who he took with him as his guest? That's correct - Woody Hayes, the man everyone was being encouraged to hate and criticize.

Coach Landry's gesture of love and friendship went a long way toward Woody's recovery of his honor and self-esteem. Coach Landry exemplified one aspect of the nature of love - it's optimistic. Love looks at people in the best light, regardless of what their problems may be. I Corinthians 13:5 says, ": love keeps no record of wrongs."

Can you imagine where we all would be if God kept a record of our wrongs? No way, he tells us in Jeremiah 31:34, "For I will forgive their wickednessand will remember their sins no more."

In Psalms 103: 11-12, David speaks of both God's love and forgiveness. "For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us."

He expects no less from us!

God bless you and have a great day.

* * *

Jonathan Watson is pastor of the Bella Vista Assembly of God.

In the Spirit, Pages 17 on 09/30/2009

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